Chavista paramilitary groups, which have been behind a great part of the violence seen in the protests in Venezuela, are being coordinated by Cuban personnel sent by Havana to help the government of Nicolas Maduro overcome the largest threat faced by the Bolivarian revolution in more than a decade.

Former Venezuelan intelligence agents and sources with direct access to active officers of the Bolivarian Armed Forces have told El Nuevo Herald that Cuba plays a leading role in the repression unleashed by Maduro against Venezuelan protesters. The Cubans are in charge of operations, which range for security around the presidential palace to the planning of arrests of opponents.

In what has had grave repercussions in the protests against Maduro, the Cubans have planned the operations of between 600 and 1,000 armed men who comprise the Chavista paramilitary groups, known as "colectivos."